Arts & Leisure

2011 AARP Spelling Bee Highlights

Tony Johnson captures the 2011 title

Tony Johnson, 58, from LaGrange, Ga., was crowned champion of the 2011 AARP National Spelling Bee held in Cheyenne, Wyo., and walked away with a $5,000 grand prize and a five-year AARP membership.

Johnson, a practicing psychologist, correctly spelled "uakari" in the 39th round of the competition that began with 40 spellers from across America. Johnson's studying regimen for the last year: "I systematically went through the dictionary from A to Z.

"Below is a collection of highlight images from this year's bee. The 2012 contest is right around the corner, which means it's never too early to break out that dictionary.

Contestant Robert Moy, 54, from New York City, concentrates on a word during the written portion of the AARP National Spelling Bee. There were 100 words written before the top 15 contestants made it to the finals. — Matt Nager